Germany, Palatinate of Simmern, ducat 1577, Simmern mint.
Obv. RICHA D G C PA RHE DVX BA; full figure portrait of the prince facing, in tournament armour.
Rv. MO NO AVREA SIMERENSIS, the shield of the Palatinate and Bavaria divides the date 7 - 7; at the bottom, in the ring, the value mark I D.
Gold, 3.43 g, 21.3 mm. Friedberg 2051; Slg. Memmesh. 2643.
Grade: Good XF, minimal bending, the scratch under the right hand on Obv. comes from the die, being not a coin damage!
A beautiful Renaissance coin with an exceptionally realistic portrait. Prince Richard of Simmern, the younger brother of Prince-Elector
Frederick III of Palatinate, was supported throughout his life by his
older brother, and then nephew, Louis VI and his successors, because the
tiny lordhip of Simmern had little income and the prince lived beyond
his means. His gold coins, displaying the magnificence of the ruler,
express these ambitions at someone else's expense. Ex Roma Numismatics.
